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Nov 6 '18
LOS ANGELES -- Mikaela Mayer knew she was better than the high school burnout that she was in danger of becoming. Ricky Rubio Jersey .She had attended four schools in three years, repeatedly getting in trouble for fighting and bad grades. She was a 17-year-old occasional model with the self-awareness to realize she had no clear direction or future outside the San Fernando Valley.All I cared about was my friends, and going out and partying, and being a young, cool teenager, Mayer said. I was looking for something, but I had no idea what.One summer day, she realized something was calling her to the humble storefront kickboxing gym in an unassuming strip mall down the street from her divorced dads apartment. Instead of driving past it again, Mayer and a friend went inside.The first thing she asked the trainer was: Do you think Im too old to start competing?I was hungry for success in something at that time, because I wasnt doing well at anything, Mayer said. I was like, `I want to be good at something. Its always been inside me. Ive always had that fire. I didnt have anywhere to direct it.Almost nine years to the day after that wild child learned how to throw her first punch, Mayer will fight at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics, joining gold medalist Claressa Shields as the only U.S. women boxers in Brazil.Mayer still doesnt know exactly why she first decided to punch people after a youth spent participating in everything from soccer to motocross to snowboarding. Nobody in her self-described family of hippies had been anywhere near a boxing gym.After her first workout, she knew three different ways to throw a proper punch. And she liked it.I poured all my energy into it, Mayer said. It wasnt ever just a part-time thing for me. From the day I walked into this gym, within two months, all I thought was, `I want to be the best female fighter in the world.Mayer took lessons in muay thai and kickboxing, but she dedicated herself to boxing after a back injury temporarily stopped her from throwing kicks. She became a Golden Gloves champion just a few years later -- and when the Olympics added a womens tournament in 2010, Mayer and her father, Mark, decided to chase medals.They heard about a boxing scholarship program at Northern Michigan University under revered amateur coach Al Mitchell, who has taught three U.S. Olympic teams. Before she had time to think, the LA native had been accepted to the program on Michigans Upper Peninsula.So I quit my job, said, `Later, to my boyfriend at the time, and hopped on a plane, Mayer said. I had never been to Michigan, let alone the U.P., which is a `nother thing on its own. I remember flying in there and seeing all the pine trees and 10 feet of snow and just thinking, `Where the hell am I?Mayer warmed to her cold new home, and Mitchell developed his first female pupil into a world-class fighter. Her bond with Mitchell and his fiancee became so tight that she had Mitchells initials tattooed on her right hand.The thing that makes Mikaela different is her commitment, Mitchell said. When she walked in here, I broke her down and rebuilt her. She never believed it was too hard, and she never gave up. She has toughness that got her this far, and now its getting her all the way to the Olympics. Its an incredible thing to do in that amount of time.A year after moving to Northern Michigan, Mayer fell just short of a spot on the first U.S. womens team, losing a decision to Queen Underwood at the 2012 trials. She only became more determined to catch the next wave in the evolution of her sport.Mayer made the Rio team last fall only after fending off a ferocious challenge over three qualifying fights from teenage prodigy Jajaira Gonzalez, a fellow LA-area native with a wealth of junior titles.The competition is so much tougher now than it was when I started, Mayer said. Back in 2009, if you went to a tournament and even got to have two fights, it was worth the money.With an artfully bent nose from boxing, she still takes occasional modeling work, particularly for a handbag company that sponsors her. Although she still lives in Michigan, Mayer returned to her original Valley gym last month, joyfully greeting her first coach -- and Coconut, the adorable dog she gave up when she moved.She wants an Olympic medal out of her journey, but she also wants her success to bring more attention to womens boxing. Although she has thought about turning pro, good money is scarce for female fighters outside the octagon -- but that only makes Mayer more determined to succeed in Rio.Ive always believed Id be here, but I also knew that the chances of being here were going to be slim, Mayer said. This was my dream before I knew it was possible. Custom Utah Jazz Jerseys . The lawyers filed a 33-page amended complaint Tuesday in federal court in Manhattan, expanding on the suit originally filed Oct. 3 in New York Supreme Court. Arbitrator Fredric Horowitz last week refused to compel Selig to testify in the grievance, and Rodriguez then walked out of the hearing without testifying. Alec Burks Jersey . A forerunning sled crashed into the worker Thursday at the Sanki Sliding Center. The unidentified worker broke both legs and was airlifted to a nearby hospital. http:///...-gobert-jazz-jersey/ . - Raiders general manager Reggie McKenzie never doubted he would bring back coach Dennis Allen for a third year despite back-to-back 4-12 records. ORLANDO, Fla. -- A starter throughout much of his career, Jeff Green is adjusting to the role coming off the bench in his first season with the Orlando Magic.But there have been nights so far this season when it has all seemed so natural for the versatile veteran. Green certainly appeared in his element Saturday night as he knocked down several big shots as part of a second-unit that helped the Magic overcome a 12-point third-quarter deficit to come away with an 88-86 win over the Washington Wizards at home.Green led his team with 18 points off the bench as the Magic improved to .500 with its third straight win after starting the season 0-3.My job is to just go play basketball, said Green, who scored 10 of his points in the fourth quarter. It doesnt matter if I come off the bench, start, play five minutes, play 30 minutes. My job is the same. I just have to be aggressive with the minutes I play.Im just finding my rhythm and thats what its all about.Green, who is playing behind Aaron Gordon at the small forward spot, led the second unit which provided energy in both the first and second halves to pull the Magic out of double-digit deficits. The bench, which also includes Bismack Biyombo, D.J. Augustin and Mario Hezonja was so impressive that Frank Vogel left them in the game down the critical stretch as the Wizards threatened.Biyombo was huge in the paint on the defensive end, coming up with 12 rebounds and three big block shots to energize the team. Hezonja, a second-year swingman, finally broke out of his slump, by scoring eight of his nine points in the fourth quarter on clutch baskets.Thats what we need from the second unit, come in with a lot energy, scoring mentality and just be more aggressive, said Evan Fournier, who finished with 13 points.Vogel admitted that second-unit gave the team a much-needed lift.We road some of those guys out the rest of the game because of their first-quarter energy and obviously they got going late into the third and into thhe fourth, said Vogel, whose team has won back-to-back games at home. Jeff Hornacek Jersey. So credit those guys for turning the game around.The Wizards (1-4), who were playing without point guard John Wall, struggled to come up with shots down the stretch even though Markieff Morris came close to knocking down a game-winning 3-point shot at the buzzer. Morris led the team with 18 points while Bradley Beal added 15.A few missed defensive assignments, said Wizards coach Scott Brooks. They hit some 3s. They got some breaks.TIP-INS:Wizards: As expected, Wall did not play in Saturday nights game against Magic. He is not playing in back-to-back night games while still recovering from offseason surgery on both knees. Rookie Tomas Satoransky started in his place and veteran Trey Burke served as the backup.Magic: Orlando had lost 12 straight games to the Washington Wizards entering Saturday nights game. ... The Magic entered Saturday night averaging 13.2 offensive rebounds per game, which ranks second in the NBA. ... The Magic debuted their new dark grey uniforms.WATCHING IBAKA SURGEWizards coach Scott Brooks had a front seat view of Serge Ibakas transition from Spain to the NBA when the Seattle Supersonics (Oklahoma City Thunder) drafted him in 2009 and Brooks was the head coach. Ibaka was a talented player but didnt speak English initially so explaining what he wanted from Ibaka was a challenge for Brooks.My first (go-around) with him was very interesting, Brooks said. We didnt know how to communicate. Even on the basketball court the first couple of months it was very difficult but I give Serge a lot of credit. He came and took English lessons and really challenged himself to pick up the language.UP NEXTWizards: Washington returns home to face the Houston Rockets on Monday.Magic: Orlando plays at the Chicago Bulls on Monday at the United Center. 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